Company officials forecast a 9.5 percent annual decline in railway traffic at national level in 2009. One of the reasons for this drop is the rehabilitation work of the railway infrastructure on certain sections.
“Budgetary constraints in 2009, as well as the change in passenger railway transport demand at national and regional levels led to modifications in the train schedule, and the adoption of certain restructuring measures,” company officials told Business Standard.
On the other hand, according to market analysts, one third of the 1,700 passenger trains circulating daily in Romania will be withdrawn this spring, which will affect the company’s investment programs. Analysts added that €1 billion worth of modernizations and acquisitions are urgently needed on this segment.
The operator’s turnover amounted to RON 2.12 bln last year, slightly below the RON 2.5 bln posted in 2007. CFR Calatori presently covers 95 percent of the passenger railway transport market, with the remaining five percent divided between Regio Trans and Servtrans Invest.
